Entries Tagged as 'new york'

Bear Hunting Seasons Begin September 6 in Portions of Southeastern New York and September 13 in Northern New York

Under Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced that the new 2014 early bear hunting seasons open at sunrise on Saturday, September 6, in portions of New York’s southern zone and Saturday, September 13, in the northern zone.

“Early black bear hunting seasons are an important tool for managers to control bear populations, and beginning Saturday, hunters will have a new opportunity to pursue bears in portions of the Catskills and western Hudson Valley,” said Commissioner Martens. “Opening these early seasons demonstrates Governor Cuomo’s commitment to increasing hunting opportunities here in New York State for sportsmen and women.”

Following recommendations in DEC’s recently adopted bear management plan to reduce bear populations in the region, the new early firearms bear season runs from September 6-21 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. The early bowhunting season for bears will then open in all of the Southern Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning November 15.

New this year, DEC has also expanded bear hunting in northern New York to include WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K and 6N. In these newly opened units, bear hunting begins with bowhunting equipment only from September 13 through October 17. In the rest of northern New York (WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J), the early firearms season begins Saturday, September 13 and continues until October 17. Muzzleloader season then opens in all northern WMUs on October 18, followed by the regular firearms season for bear on October 25.

During these early seasons, or whenever hunting in warm conditions, bear hunters should be prepared to skin and cool harvested bears as soon as possible to protect the quality of the meat. Hunters may consider skinning and quartering the bear in the field and packing out the meat in game bags.

As part of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, New York streamlined the hunting and fishing license structure, made it consistent for resident and non-residents, and reduced license fees. Some hunters and anglers may not be familiar with these license changes, but licensing-issuing agents are prepared to provide assistance and ensure the license buyers secure all the desired permits and privileges. Highlights of the sporting licenses changes are available on DEC’s website.

In support of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.

DEC regulates black bear hunting to manage populations toward levels that are acceptable to the public. Information about black bear hunting in New York, including season dates and regulations, is available on DEC’s website. Additionally, DEC’s booklet Hunting the Black Bear in New York (PDF) (937 KB), includes tips on bear hunting and proper care of harvested bears.

The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative (Cooperative) will be applying lampricides to portions of five tributaries to Lake Champlain and two deltas during the months of September and October.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be treating the Saranac River delta, Mill Brook delta, Mill Brook, Great Chazy River, and Mount Hope Brook in New York and the Winooski and Missisquoi rivers in Vermont as part of the Cooperative’s long-term sea lamprey control program for Lake Champlain. Treatments are scheduled to begin with the Saranac River delta on September 10th, but weather conditions may affect planned treatment dates. While trout and salmon populations of the lake are the primary beneficiaries of these efforts, lake sturgeon, walleye, and many other species also benefit from sea lamprey control. Sea lamprey control also generates economic activity by increasing angling opportunities and the time that boaters, anglers, and their families spend in the Lake Champlain area.

Annual sea lamprey assessments continue to show the success of the program where we recorded an average of 30 sea lamprey wounds per 100 lake trout and 19 per 100 Atlantic salmon in 2011. This is down from a high of 99 for lake trout in 2007 and 79 for Atlantic salmon in 2003. Several control initiatives are underway that will further reduce the sea lamprey population and reduce their impacts on Lake Champlain’s fish populations.

Larval sea lamprey live in rivers and on deltas for about four years before transforming to their parasitic phase and emigrating to Lake Champlain where their effect on the fishery becomes apparent. One of the Cooperative’s Integrated Pest Management approaches is to apply selective pesticides (lampricides) to rivers and deltas in prescribed and precise concentrations. The concentrations used are carefully chosen and monitored to ensure effective elimination of sea lamprey larvae and protection of non-target species. TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) will be applied in the rivers for 12-14 hours depending on conditions.

A second lampricide, Bayluscide 20% Emulsifiable Concentrate, is being included in the application on the Winooski River. The use of 1% Bayluscide with TFM reduces the amount of TFM needed by about 40%, resulting in a reduction of total lampricide applied and substantial cost savings. The Saranac River and Mill Brook deltas will be treated with Granular Bayluscide: lampricide-coated sand grains that release pesticide after sinking to the bottom where they effectively kill sea lamprey larvae.

Our toll-free number (1-888-596-0611) provides information on the treatment schedule for each of the treatments, progress reports, updates on treatments, and water use advisories.

Temporary water use advisories will be in effect for each of the treatments to minimize human exposure to affected waters. Each state’s Department of Health recommends that the treated river and lake water not be used for drinking, swimming, fishing, irrigation, or livestock watering while the advisories are in effect.

The treatments and water use advisories will have no effect on most residents in the Champlain Basin and no municipal water supply systems will be affected. Cooperative staff have identified all landowners with property in the affected areas. A letter was sent to residents informing them of the planned treatment and asking them if they or their livestock use water from a surface supply that will be affected by the treatment. Days before the treatments begin, another letter will be sent to inform residents of the impending treatment and to arrange any water usage accommodations.

Local television and radio stations will broadcast the dates when advisories begin and expire. The treatment schedule is subject to change as weather conditions, stream flows, or logistical issues may arise during the treatments. Residents will be kept apprised of any such changes through these media. Communities and residents that utilize the following bodies of water should consult the advisory table:

Seven people were ticketed for transporting firewood more than 50 miles without certification of heat treatment at three checkpoints held by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Police in the Adirondacks on Friday, August 17.

“DEC and its partners continue to educate campers and others about the importance of the firewood transportation regulation and preventing the spread of invasive insects,” said DEC Regional Director Robert Stegemann. “The level of compliance with the regulation indicates that the public is getting the message. We must make every effort to protect the forest preserve and private woodlands in the Adirondacks from invasive insects, including enforcement of the regulation for those who don’t comply.”

Two checkpoints were located near Lake George; one on the northbound off ramp of Exit 21 of the Northway (I-87) and the other nearby on Route 9N under the Northway overpass.

Approximately 7,000 vehicles were screened through these checkpoints to determine if they were transporting firewood. Thirty-one vehicles with firewood were inspected resulting in six people receiving tickets for violations of firewood transportation regulation. Violations included transporting wood from out of state, transporting wood from a quarantined and transporting from untreated firewood from more than 50 miles from its source.

In addition to being ticketed, the six people were provided information and educational material about the firewood transportation regulation and the dangers of spreading invasive insects. Their firewood was confiscated and bagged. It was later taken to the DEC Office in Warrensburg where it was chipped to destroy any potential invasive insects.

Six of the cars inspected were carrying firewood that had been heat treated in compliance with the regulation. Eight people were transporting firewood within 50 miles of the source but without a completed source certificate document as required by the regulation. They were issued warnings and provided assistance in completing the source certificate. DEC staff also provided information and educational material about the firewood transportation regulation and the dangers of spreading invasive insects.

Many campers that passed through the checkpoints explained that they were aware of the regulation and chose to comply with the regulations by obtaining wood locally.

Several trucks with logs passed through the checkpoint. These were inspected by staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests inspected the trucks and found no violations. The drivers were provided information and education materials regarding the laws pertaining to the transport of logs.

The third checkpoint was located in the southern Adirondacks, on State Route 30 near the boundary line of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Only one ticket for illegally transporting firewood from out of state and seven warnings were issued to people who were transporting firewood within 50 miles of the source but without a completed source certificate document.

Again the illegally transported firewood was confiscated, bagged and transported to the DEC office in Northville for chipping. Source certifications were completed on site with DEC assistance. Educational information and material was provided to all firewood transporters.

EAB has been found in the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and Western New York. It is responsible for the destruction of more than 50 million ash trees in the United States since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. The main method of movement of EAB across the country has been through the transport of firewood to campgrounds. By transporting firewood, campers and homeowners could spread diseases and invasive insects that can quickly kill large numbers of trees.

Don’t Move Firewood – You Could be Killing Our Trees!

Help STOP THE SPREAD and obey the Firewood Regulation:

It is best to leave all firewood at home – please do not bring it to campgrounds or parks.

Get your firewood at the campground or from a local vendor – ask for a receipt or label that has the firewood’s local source.

If you choose to transport firewood within New York State:

It must have a receipt or label that has the firewood’s source and it must remain within 50 miles of that source.

For firewood not purchased (i.e. cut from your own property) you must have a Self-Issued Certificate of Source and it must be sourced within 50 miles of your destination.

Only firewood labeled as meeting New York’s heat treatment standards to kill pests (kiln-dried) may be transported into the state and further than 50 miles from the firewood’s source.

Three people were ticketed for transporting firewood more than 50 miles without certification of heat treatment during a checkpoint held by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Police in the Adirondacks.

“The spread of invasive insects through the illegal transportation of firewood must be prevented to protect both the Adirondack forest preserve and private woodland,” said DEC Regional Director Robert Stegemann. “Currently emerald ash borer is not found in or near the Adirondacks, we want to keep it that way.”

The checkpoint was set up to check for illegal transportation of untreated firewood in violation of regulation and quarantine orders. Of all the vehicles passing through the checkpoint only three had firewood. Unfortunately, none of the three were in compliance with the firewood transport regulation. The illegal firewood was confiscated and chipped on site for disposal to prevent the potential spread of invasive insects.

Regulation prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been heat treated to kill pests such as emerald ash borer (EAB). The regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its source. Quarantines restrict the movement of ash trees, ash products and firewood from all wood species in and around the areas where EAB has been found.

EAB has been found in the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and Western New York. It is responsible for the destruction of more than 50 million ash trees in the United States since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. The main method of movement of EAB across the country has been through the transport of firewood to campgrounds. By transporting firewood, campers and homeowners could spread diseases and invasive insects that can quickly kill large numbers of trees.

Don’t Move Firewood – You Could be Killing Our Trees!

Help STOP THE SPREAD and obey the Firewood Regulation:

It is best to leave all firewood at home – please do not bring it to campgrounds or parks.

Get your firewood at the campground or from a local vendor – ask for a receipt or label that has the firewood’s local source.

If you choose to transport firewood within New York state:

It must have a receipt or label that has the firewood’s source and it must remain within 50 miles of that source.

For firewood not purchased (i.e. cut from your own

property) you must have a Self-Issued Certificate of Source and it must be sourced within 50 miles of your destination.

Only firewood labeled as meeting New York’s heat treatment standards to kill pests (kiln-dried) may be transported into the state and further than 50 miles from the firewood’s source.

DEC Environmental Conservation Police will have more checkpoints across the state throughout the camping season.

"Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the backcountry."

"New York State was instrumental in the restoration and recovery of the bald eagle in the northeast United States and continues to play an important role in providing suitable habitat for our nation's symbol"

"The State of New York has owned the Burn Road on the north side of Little Tupper Lake, part of the William C. Whitney Wilderness area, since 1997 when it bought the 14,700-acre north end of the larger Whitney tract. It was classified as Wilderness soon thereafter"

"Before railroads and automobiles, travelers depended on the quality and skills of North Woods guides to show them the region’s natural beauty, to feed them and provide the best in hunting and fishing."